Electric switch



S. L. SNEIERSQN ET AL Nov. 25, 1930.

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 8, 1930 lie/196M201 ,i'muellfi'neierson/ Jauwsl.flildebra1ul 14 I V -J7Wavzw U E TATESTPATENT OFFICER Patented Nov. 25, 1930 a SAMUEL L. SNEIEESQN, or nos'roN, AND iiivrnsn iirignniannNngor LYNN, Massaormsn'rms, ASSIGNORS, BY manor ANDmnsNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOUNATIONAL MFG.

00., or BOSTON, massacisusnrrs, A conronarion OEEZIQISSAGHUSETTS I niaizormcsmvrrron {Application'filedApril s, .1930. Serial 116 442532. 1

i "In certain electric switches, the switchelements are usually operated by a pull' chain, thus turning on or off the light. Such which while possessed of many advantages has always been open to the objection that it was liable to catch on switch parts: or in the casing opening rendering a downward pull or' 'anytother than a true lineal pull particularly diflicult and even impossible at n times.

Efforts have beenlmade to overcome'these objections, huttheseefiort's have usually consisted of the incorporation of elements which extended through or beyondthe casing open ing and whichwere carried byor became an i 7 integral part of the switch operating means itself. These devices while more or less satisfactory in result required that special parts he" built in theswitch', which parts were expensive to manufacture and were impossible of usem the ular SWltCh.

So far as we are aware no one heretofore chain andthe guide as the chain? is pulled downwardly. o a w 1 Fig.--3is a View showing aswitch casing has conceived of the provision of means separate from the chain itself, but yet adapted to guide the chain while it is moving through the casing opening to operate the switch mechanism. According to the loca v avoid catching or frictional contact with the casingyit is desirable that the chain be guided outwardly a distance beyond the casing before any angularmove'mentthereof is permitted. By means of our invention we are enabled to secure this result.

t'ach a string orsoine other device to the end of the pullchain in order to bring it within reach of the ordinary person. I :C-ertam switches such for example as" the so-called" canopy switch are placed near the ceiling and thestring or other means aifixed to the end, of the chain and by means of which the switch is operated frequently lies over the linlnln-lnlqn, rn' 0110A: Th0 lit- 51i, (YF PilFtPllTlfl relatively cheap pop- In common practice it iscustomary to at-.

the member 2; a

' At its smaller orouterend the chain guide 11.

extends outwardly a distance'from the.swi tch,the cord is made to fall without the circumference iofjthe lamp shade thus i apull chain is usually madeof ball chain' the cord. i v y p a Although we produce our electric switches already equipped with our pull chain guides overcoming the likelihood of breakage of as disclosed in the drawings, itwill be understood that the guide may he -sold as an acthe market.

in the specification described a form of our invention which has proven highly satisfactory andpractical in use. i Throughout the specification and drawings, like reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts. In the drawings: a i r Fig. 1 is aside equipped with our chain guide in the position ,it occupies when the chain is in neutral posi tion. v a

Fig. 2 shows the position assumed by the equipped to receive our guide, and i F iga l 1s a view of the guide removed.

We have sho-wnat l'an ordinary canopy,

switch of a type readily procured in the market, into which are led through suitable openpasses through theusual chain eyelet3 and extends beyond the casing. Through this member2 the chain 4 is, led, all as shown in Fig. 3.

Our chain spiral spring5 equipped at its inner end with a knurled piece 5? internally threaded as at 5 to engagethe threaded outer surface 2 of 5maybe provided with a finishing eyelet 5 through which the chain 4 emerges. a

elevation ofna switch? guide 5 lconsists of a tapered! In the drawings we have illustrated and i The uide 5 normally maintains thatpor I it is desired to operate the switch, the chain is pulled from this neutral position and the guide 5 follows the chain. However, because of construction of the guide all sharp angles are avoided, thechain passing freely over the smooth curved surface ofthe inside of the guide.

The coils of the spring are closely adjacent to each other and an angular pull on the chain causes the larger coils near thecasing to separate and spread on the outer side thereof as the guide and chain are pulled at any angle to the normal neutral position of Fig. 1. This very action, however, causes the inner portions of the coils more closely to lie against each other thereby forming a continuously curved path over which the chain must travel as it is drawn from its normal position with relation to the casing. This curved path avoids the friction caused by the chain contacting with or catching on the edges of the eyelet 3 and ensures at all times the free uninterrupted passage of the chain into and out of the casing.

The chain is entirely separate from the guide and the guide is neither lengthened nor shortened as the chain is drawn outwardly and sprung back therethrough. However, by reason of its flexible nature the guide adapts itself generally to any angular movement of the chain according to the direction of the pull. This may be understood from Fig. 2 which shows the path followed by the chain and guide in the case of a downward pull.

The length of the guide 5 is immaterial provided that its coils are sufi'icient in numher to provide a generally curved surface over which the chain passes in its travel therethrough regardless of the angle of the pull. It is essential that the guide be of sufliciently flexible nature so that it will yield to permit a general angular movement of the chain and yet sufliciently rigid so that the curved surface over which the chain must travel is at all times assured.

Various modifications in our improved switch casing and pull chain guide, the manner of affixing the guide to the casing, and the shape and general construction thereof may obviously be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention if within the limits of the appended claims.

What we therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

l.- In switch mechanism, a casing having a pull chain opening. a chain guide mounted in saidopening and a pull chain attached at one end to the switch operating parts and passing through said guide, said guide comprising a tapered coil spring normally extending perpendicular to said casing to hold said chain in alinement with said opening, while said chain is not in use, and movable angularly with said chain regardless of the direction of pull when the chain is pulled to operate the switch.

2. In switch mechanism, a casing having a pull chain opening, a chain guide mounted in said opening and a pull chain attached at one end to the switch operating parts and passing through said guide, said guide comprising a coil spring with said chain regardless of the angular direction of pull when the chain is pulled to operate the switch.

3. In switch mechanism, acasing having a pull chain opening, a chain guide mounted in said opening and a pull chain attached at one end to the switch operating parts, and passing through said guide, said guide movable with said chain regardless of the angular direction of pull when the chain is pulled to operate the switch. 7

4. In switch mechanism, a casing having a pull chain opening, a chain guide mounted in said opening and a pull chain attached at one end to the switch operating parts and passing through said guide, said guide movable with said chain regardless of the angular direction of pull when the chain is pulled to operate the switch, said guide providing acurved passageway for said chain whereby interference with the passage of said chain in its lineal movement over said switch and easing parts is avoided.

5. In switch mechanism, a casing having a pull chain opening, a chain guide mounted in said opening and a pull chain attached at one end to the switch operating parts and passing through said guide, said guide being non-extensible as to the lineal movements of said chain but angularly movable with said chain regardless of the direction of the pull on the chain, said guide providing. a curved passageway for said chain whereby interference with the passage of said chain in its lineal movement over said switch and casing parts is avoided.

6. In switch mechanism, a casing having a pull chain opening, a chain guide mounted in said opening and a pull chain attached at one end to the switch operating parts and passing through said guide, sai'd'guide comprising a coil spring normally extending perpendicular to said casing to hold said chain in alinement with said opening non-extensible as to the lineal movement of said chain, but angularly movable with said chain re gardless of the direction of a pull, said coils providing a curved passageway for said chain in its said angular movement whereby interference with the passage of said chain in its lineal movement over said switch and easing parts is avoided.

7. In a pull chain switch, a casing having a chain opening, a chain guide disposed in said opening and a chain passing therethrough, said guide adapted to follow the angular movement of the chain regardless of the direction of pullbut independent of-the (ill lineal movement of said chain as it is pulled from and returns to neutral position.

8. In a pull chain switch, a casing having a chain opening, a chain guide disposed in said opening and a chain passing therethrough, said guide comprising a tapered coil spring adapted to follow the angular movement of the chain regardless of the direction of pull but independent of the lineal movement of said chain as it is pulled from and returns to neutral position.

9. In a pull chain switch, a casing having a chain opening, a threaded guide member disposed in said opening and extending beyond said casing, a tapered coil spring having a knurled nut on its casing end,said nut being threaded to engage said guide member and apull chain passing through said guide member and coil spring, whereby said chain is prevented from frictional contact with the casing. n v

10. In a pull chain switch, a casing having a chain opening, a threaded guide member disposed in said opening and extending beyond said casing, a tapered coil spring having a knurled nut on its casing end, said nut being threaded to engage said guide member and a pull chain passing through said guide member and coil spring, said coil spring being movable angularly but not lineally with said chain as the same is pulled to operate the switch, whereby said chain is prevented from frictionally contacting with the casing.

'In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures. V

SAMUEL L. SNEIERSON. JAMES L. HILDEBRAND. 

